Jul 31 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Molly K. Dewitt The Daily News, Jacksonville, N.C.


According to representatives from Progress Energy and Jones-Onslow Electric Membership Corp., there's a "new energy reality."

That reality could end up costing people up to 40 percent more on their monthly electric bill.

At Thursday's Forum Onslow, "Going Green," Julie Hans, senior programs specialist in the Efficiency and Innovative Technologies Department at Progress Energy, and Steve Goodson, vice president of energy services at Jones-Onslow, spoke about legislation at the state and federal levels regarding energy efficiency and how consumers will be affected.

In 2007, North Carolina passed what is referred to as Senate Bill 3, which set into effect a 12.5 percent renewable energy standard. The standard requires 12.5 percent of all energy sold in North Carolina to be renewable energy by 2021.

In May, Jones-Onslow added a line to customer's monthly bill titled "NC Renewable Energy Mandate," which equates to about 36 cents a month for residential customers with a yearly cap of $34, Goodson said during his presentation.

Hans said the state is on track to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 3, but a federal requirement being considered by the legislature may pose problems.

Under what is referred to as the Waxman Markey Bill, the federal government would impose a 20 percent renewable energy standard by 2020.

"That is certainly an aggressive benchmark ... and based on (a 2006) study, something that is not achievable in North Carolina," Hans said.

If the legislation is passed and the state is unable to meet the standard, then the government will levy fines on the state, which will be passed down to taxpayers and could increase consumer's bills by up to 40 percent.

"We recognize the importance of preserving our natural resources and we recognize the importance of being good environmental stewards ... but with that said, we have to support a balanced solution and that balanced solution can't be sending a good portion of your energy dollars up to Washington, D.C.," Goodson said.

Goodson said the charges will be mandated and Jones-Onslow will have no choice but to pass the costs on to customers.

Richlands resident JoAnne DeRossett said she found the forum informative.

"I'm interested in the legislation that is in Washington as well as what has been passed on the state level and how that is going to affect me as a residential customer ... because it all ties into the economy now," she said.

In the meantime, Progress Energy and Jones-Onslow continue to promote ways for their customers to conserve energy and save on their electric bills.

Progress Energy will reimburse commercial customers who install solar-electric producing panels 18 cents for every kilowatt hour the panels produce. Commercial customers who install solar water heaters are reimbursed $20 per renewable energy credit the system produces.

On the residential side of things, Progress Energy is seeking approval for a neighborhood energy saving program as soon as Monday that would allow the company to visit neighborhoods identified as low income by the Department of Energy and perform free home energy audits. Following the audit, Progress Energy would complete various energy-saving techniques such as caulking around windows and doors, replacing insulation and installing energy-saving light bulbs in an effort to help decrease the consumer's bill and help them to save energy.

At Jones-Onslow, the organization is promoting the sale of water heater wraps that help to insulate older water heaters and in-home power cost monitors that allow consumers to track the amount of energy being used in their home. JOEMC also gives rebates on the sale of energy saving water heaters and compact fluorescent light bulbs and conducts free energy audits for customers.

"I personally just don't see the point of legislation and mandates that will raise the cost of electricity to the point where people simply cannot afford to have electricity," Goodson said.

Contact Molly DeWitt at 910-219-8455 or mdewitt@freedomenc.com.

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